Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Hey Robin!I spend a lot of time on Ravelry... which should explain why I'm not here often enough! A little bit ago, there was a lot of chatter on the boards "What should I knit my brother/Dad/FiL/grown-son?" and Lots of times the answer was "A scarf!" or "A cowl!", amongst all the hat suggestions of course. This got me a'thinkin'... Vegas Sands is a pretty feminine pattern, in most colors, but what about an alteration to make it more "Manly"? I'm sure I can do it, I mean the original pattern was for a man!

I noodled around a bit and had the best idea yet, which was to turn it into something more like a neckwarmer, et VIOLA! Feast your eyes:

I give you the Manly Collar! Yes it's a dumb name, but I am definitely open to suggestions. It fastens with a hidden button, which I think is oh-so-stylish.

For the first time I got a test-knitter to check out my pattern before putting it upon you guys... good thing too because I did the button-hole instructions wrong! The pattern:

Manly Collar

Materials: 1 skein DK weight yarn (I used Knit Pick’s CotLin and at 123 yards I still had some left); Size 7 needles (straight or circular but I found the circs easier to maneuver) or size required to get-gauge; Tapestry needle

Next row: K5, continue in pattern to your bind-off gap, use backward-loop cast on to add 3 sts, k7.

Continue following pattern, adding the knitted 5 stitch border on each edge. When piece is approx 5” tall ending with a row 1 or 3, change to garter stitch again for four rows.

Bind off in your favorite manner.

Finishing: Block and then weave in ends. To sew on the button I folded the rectangle in half lengthways and wrapped the collar around my model’s neck, then placed a small pin (careful not to nick your model!) where the button hole is. Then I sewed the button on where the pin was. (Don’t forget to remove the pin).

Abbreviations:

1/2LC: slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in front, k2, then knit1 from cn